JamesG
08-08-2013, 11:25 AM
Justin Guarini, "American Idol" Runner Up, Says Show was "Extremely Damaging" (VIDEO)
by OWN
8/8/2013
On the evening of September 4, 2002, "American Idol" fans watched the first season finale in anticipation, wondering who would be crowned winner of the now-hit singing competition. Texas native Kelly Clarkson and curly-haired favorite Justin Guarini clutched hands as "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest made the announcement: Clarkson had won.
Though he didn't take home the top honor, Guarini was still praised for his talent and saw his career begin to take off. He landed a record deal, made a movie with Clarkson and appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" where Oprah told him that his graciousness would carry him "a mighty long way."
Yet Guarini didn't achieve much of the success he seemed destined for -- and now, he's opening up about the disappointments he experienced during his post-"American Idol" years on a new episode of "Oprah: Where Are They Now?"
"'American Idol' did wonders for my career, but it was also extremely damaging for my life. Nobody knew that because I had put on a happy face and went out and met the world. It was a time when I dealt with horrible depression and the realization that I was not living the dream that I thought I was living.
My first film experience ever, 'From Justin to Kelly', was an unbelievable experience that I wouldn't trade for the world. But the film comes out and it doesn't do very well and it gets trashed. At the time I'm recording my CD and I didn't quite know who I was as an artist and there were plenty of people around me telling me what it is that I should sing, how it is that I should dress and behave. It ended up completely backfiring because it wasn't authentic.
So when my CD came out after the abysmal film, it sold maybe 150,000 units which is actually... pathetic."
Guarini's "Oprah: Where Are They Now?" episode airs Sunday, August 11, at 10 p.m. ET on OWN.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/08/justin-guarini-american-idol_n_3721677.html?
by OWN
8/8/2013
On the evening of September 4, 2002, "American Idol" fans watched the first season finale in anticipation, wondering who would be crowned winner of the now-hit singing competition. Texas native Kelly Clarkson and curly-haired favorite Justin Guarini clutched hands as "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest made the announcement: Clarkson had won.
Though he didn't take home the top honor, Guarini was still praised for his talent and saw his career begin to take off. He landed a record deal, made a movie with Clarkson and appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" where Oprah told him that his graciousness would carry him "a mighty long way."
Yet Guarini didn't achieve much of the success he seemed destined for -- and now, he's opening up about the disappointments he experienced during his post-"American Idol" years on a new episode of "Oprah: Where Are They Now?"
"'American Idol' did wonders for my career, but it was also extremely damaging for my life. Nobody knew that because I had put on a happy face and went out and met the world. It was a time when I dealt with horrible depression and the realization that I was not living the dream that I thought I was living.
My first film experience ever, 'From Justin to Kelly', was an unbelievable experience that I wouldn't trade for the world. But the film comes out and it doesn't do very well and it gets trashed. At the time I'm recording my CD and I didn't quite know who I was as an artist and there were plenty of people around me telling me what it is that I should sing, how it is that I should dress and behave. It ended up completely backfiring because it wasn't authentic.
So when my CD came out after the abysmal film, it sold maybe 150,000 units which is actually... pathetic."
Guarini's "Oprah: Where Are They Now?" episode airs Sunday, August 11, at 10 p.m. ET on OWN.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/08/justin-guarini-american-idol_n_3721677.html?